Connect with us

Latest News

NFL Draft why everybody battling for second place behind Alabama

When his players get $85 million in in one night, that’s Nick Saban’s recruiting pitch for recruits because it shows he develops talent.

Published

on

It’s been obvious for a few years now the reason nobody in the SEC is going to catch Alabama anytime soon is not just recruiting or the X’s and O’s.

Nick Saban has figured out how to have his own NFL team at the college level in Tuscaloosa.

“It’s what he’s done behind the scenes,” ESPN’s Peter Burns said Wednesday afternoon on Ruscin & Zach on ESPN Arkansas.

Sure, part of it is recruiting. Another part is coming up with schemes and other stuff. The biggest part, though, is something most people watching college football have no idea about.

“The program he’s built that no one sees as far as compliance, strength and conditioning,” Burns said, “and the way he structures it like an NFL team behind closed doors is the reason for Saban’s success.”

While fans at other places say Alabama is doing something illegal to excuse the failure of their school of choice not winning it all, the fact is they haven’t gotten caught.

The biggest marketing and selling tool for Saban in Tuscaloosa was last Thursday’s NFL Draft when Crimson Tide players got $85 million in guaranteed money … just in the first round.

“That smile on Saban’s face is him knowing he never has to make another recruiting call if he doesn’t want to,” Burns said.

The problem for Sam Pittman and every other coach in the SEC is Saban doesn’t appear to view recruiting as a painful task that has to be done. It’s a part of college football life that’s caused a lot of Hall of Famers to quit younger than Saban.

A decade ago Saban was complaining about spread offenses that moved up and down the field in a hurry. He had his best athletes on the defensive side of the ball, which isn’t the case any longer.

“This is the future,” Burns said. “The best athletes are going to play the most athletic side of the football and I’m not sure anybody can catch (Alabama) from now on.”

Saban’s not the first to take an NFL-type approach. Ron Meyer did it at SMU in the late 1970’s into the 1980’s, but he was ahead of his time with their version of signing bonuses for new players.

Saban is ahead of the game and apparently staying there.

Not only is there no evidence anybody is close to catching up, there is the question if anybody else even has a clue how to put something together like Saban has done at Alabama.

For recruits, six national championships over 15 seasons is not the biggest sales pitch.

That 85 million is. As in dollars for his players in one night. It’s an average of over $14 million per player.

Oh, it involves work by the players. But also development in a plan by the coach. Saban calls it “The Process” and other places have tried copying that phrase.

But nobody else is even close to catching up.

Advertisement

2024 Razorbacks Football

Thu, Aug 29vs UAPB (Little Rock)W, 70-0
Sat, Sep 7@ Oklahoma StateL, 31-39 2OT
Sat, Sep 14vs UABW, 37-27
Sat, Sep 21@ AuburnW, 24-14
Sat, Sep 28vs Texas A&M (Arl)L, 21-17
Sat, Oct 5vs TennesseeW, 19-14
Sat, Oct 19vs LSUL, 34-10
Sat, Oct 26@ Mississippi StateW, 58-25
Sat, Nov 2vs Ole MissL, 63-31
Sat, Nov 16vs Texas11:00 AM
ABC
Sat, Nov 23vs Louisiana Tech3:00 PM
ESPN+/SECN+
Sat, Nov 30@ Missouri2:30 or 3:30 PM
TBA
Advertisement

Advertisement

2024 High School Rankings

Following is the Arkansas Sports Media High School Football Poll including the Overall Top 10, the top five in Classes 7A, 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A and 2A, plus the top three in the 8-man division, as voted by a panel of sports media from around the state for the week ending August 24. Ranking is given with first-place votes received, records, total points and ranking from last week's poll:
OVERALLRecordPtsPrv
1.Bryant (25)10-02681
2.Greenwood (2)10-02343
30Conway9-12022
4.Little Rock Parkview9-11714
5.Bentonville7-31625
6.Benton9-11486
7.Fayetteville8-21117
8.Pulaski Academy8-2898
9.Rogers7-3439
10.Joe T. Robinson9-122
Others receiving votes: Valley View 8, Mountain Home 7, Cabot 6, Little Rock Catholic 6, Shiloh Christian 6, Elkins 1, Farmington 1.
CLASS 7A
1.Bryant (27)10-01351
2.Conway9-11022
3.Bentonville7-3813
4.Fayetteville8-2454
5.Pulaski Academy8-2395
Others receiving votes: Rogers 3.
CLASS 6A
1.Greenwood (27)10-01351
2.Benton9-11082
3.Mountain Home8-2623
4.Shiloh Christian7-3494
5.Little Rock Catholic9-1345
Others receiving votes: Marion 6.
CLASS 5A
1.Little Rock Parkview (27)9-11351
2.Joe T. Robinson9-11062
3.Valley View10-0793
4.Farmington9-1484
5.Hot Springs Lakeside8-2205
Others receiving votes: Camden Fairview 7, Harding Academy 7, Morrilton 3.
CLASS 4A
1.Elkins (20)10-01261
3.Arkadelphia (5)8-2913
2.Little Rock Mills (1)10-0682
4.Warren8-2554
5.Dardanell (1)9-123
Southside Batesville10-023
Others receiving votes: Malvern 12, Gravette 5, Highland 2.
CLASS 3A
1.Bismarck (12)10-01051t
2.Fordyce (10)10-0961t
3.Prescott (1)9-1704
4.Osceola (2)8-1543
5.Booneville (1)9-1395
Others receiving votes: Mansfield (1) 23, Rivercrest 10, Rison 4, Salem 4.
CLASS 2A
1.Carlisle (20)10-01271
2.Conway Christian (7)10-01152
3.Des Arc8-2595
4.East Poinsett Co.7-352
5.Bigelow6-4183
Murfreesboro7-3184
Others receiving votes: Mount Ida 6, Junction City 4, Cross County 3, Poyen 3.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Strong-Huttig (27)5-0811
2.Midland9-0532
3.Cedar Ridge8-1253
Others receiving votes: Woodlawn 3.

© COPYRIGHT 2017-24 BY PEARSON BROADCASTING. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ESPN ARKANSAS 99.5 IN FAYETTEVILLE, 95.3 IN THE RIVER VALLEY, 96.3 IN HOT SPRINGS, 104.3 IN HARRISON-MOUNTAIN HOME.